The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-07-20
Sad FATE OF A PRINTER
FRANK @. ALLEN, FORMERLY OF ABBE-
VILE, IS DEAD.
Overcome by Drink, He Losses His
Situation, and Commits Suicide on
the Day Before he was to Have
Been Married...Many Relatives
and Friends in Abbeville.
Macon Iele0rdph, Z inst.

4hOSok LeeeHfNPft, TtoS'
About o'clock yesterday afternoon 1t be-
came known over the city that a young man
named Frank g. Allen had committed sui
eide by poison In his room at the Daisy
House.
Mr.. Allen came to Macon two years ago the
4th of this month and took the position Of
kookkeeper for w. B. Sparks. at the well
known Sparks cotton warehouse. For some
time past he gave himself up to drink, and
his spells of This kind were such that Mr.
Sparks found it necessary to discharge him,
which was done yesterday morning. In tell.
ing him that he had no further use for his SER
vices, Mr.. Sparks told him that If at any time
he could do any thing for him he would do it.
Shortly afterwards Mr.. Allen went into the
office where Mr. Sparks was reading q paper
and said TO him that as he had promised to do
anything for him, he Intended 10 kill himself,
and asked to be decently buried on the NOR
row. Mr.. Sparks knew that the unfortunate
man was drinking and did not attach any
special Importance to the words. While seat
ed there In the chair: MIR. Sparks heard the
click or pistol behind him. He at once con-
cluded that as he had discharged Mr.. Allen,
and that he was somewhat under the int1u-
ence.of liquor, he hod best get nearer to him,
and did so. AS Mr.. Allen unbuttoned his coat
Mr.. Sparks saw a large knife In his possession.
He at once told him to go to bed. Mr.. Allen
left the warehouse and went to his room.
Mr.. G. L. Ross also boards at the Daisy
House and while lying In his room yesterday
afternoon heard the report Of what he sup
aroused him, and he arose, dressed himself
and walked down to the Sparks warehouse.
While there he was In conversation with Mr..
Ovid Sparks, and In some way the converse
ton of the morning between Mr.. w. B. Sparks
and Mr.. Allen came up, and Mr.. Ross was
suddenly struck with the idea that perhaps
the report of the pistol which aroused him
from his nap was from Aliens pistol. He re-
turned at once TO the hotel, reaching there
about halfpast five o'clock. On entering the
room he was startled to find the undressed
body of MIR. Allen lying upon the bed. He
sent at once for DR.. Mediation, and DR.. Will
liams was also sent for. On the arrival Of the
physicians, as was in testimony before the
coroners jury, an examination of the body
was made, but there was no sign whatever of
external injury. The room was searched but
nothing In the way OF poison could be found
nor any scrap OF writing that would indicate
that the death was caused by his own hands,
Though it is said that he swallowed rat poi
son..
Coroner Hodnet was notified and an inquest
was held at o'clock with ]. j. Clay as fore
man OF the jury. The testimony was that OF
Mr.. Ross who testified rs 10 his coming into
the room at half past I've o'clock and his dis
covery, and also the conversation at the ware
house. DR.. Williams testified as to finding
body with pulse gone and respiration ceased ;
that he failed TO discover on the body any
sign Of external injury, or any poison in the
room. Mr.. Sparks testified rs to the discharge
and conversation above mentioned. Mary
w
saw the deceased about o'clock standing in
the door of his room in his night clothes, and
that about an hour after she heard that he
was dead.
ave tile Jury find from the testimony that
the deceased came 10 his death from causes
unknown TO u.s."
The body was then turned over to Mr.. Clay,
the undertaken.
Very little is known as TO Mr.. Aliens his
tory. He was about thirty years old, and be-
louged originally in Savannah. Flo is remeTn-
bered by Messrs s.. q. Holland, Of Dun's
Agency, and BY Mr.. Geo. w. Duncan, the real
estate agent, as having been clerk for a long
time with Green Bros, in Washington, In this
State. He has sister living In Athens and
brother in Jacksonville, Fla. MI. SPARKS hes
telegraphed to all members OF the family
whose names he could obtain. During his
residence In Macon Mr.. Allen made u humber
of friends among the young men. He SEEM
Ell fond Of society, and was often quiet
Some time ago he formed an attachment for
Il most estimable young lady In Macon and
they becamed engaged. The wedding day
was fixed for the 23d OF last June, but for some
and but for his tragic ending the marriage
would have taken place tonight, the imme.
diate friends OF The family having been invit-
ed to attend.
Those who knew Mr.. Allen best think that
the loss OF his situation, together with pecu.
nlary embarrassments, made him somewhat
desperate and being too proud 10 make
known his condition, he chose the saddesL su-
luton OF his problem. The news of his death
fell like a heavy blow on his friends. TO
them he was genial, frank and 6right-hearted.
and 1t was not until short while ago was IL
thought by them that the sunshine OF his IA
ture was ever chased away by shadow.
The theory OF his death Is that he LOOK
some kind of poison. The report OF pistol
heard by Mr.. Ross and also by Colonei Inoln-
as, proprietor of the hotel, had no connection
with the death. 1t Is thought that some pol
son, like prussic acid or strychnine was used,
though strange to say there were no traces OF
such polsion in the room, except some pills
conlaing strychnine, bat which did not con-
tain q sufficient amount for the purpose. Per-
I, Ill uil vnt he